The Lilabean Foundation and CBTN Partner to Accelerate Breakthroughs in Pediatric Brain Cancer Research

WASHINGTON, April 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Lilabean Foundation (LBF) is playing a critical role in advancing pediatric brain cancer research through its strategic partnership with the Children’s Brain Tumor Network (CBTN) at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Once a small family foundation, LBF has become a leading force in funding cutting-edge research and supporting innovation in childhood brain tumor care.

A key focus of LBF’s support is Project Accelerate, which enhances the Pediatric Brain Tumor Atlas and drives precision medicine. LBF’s funding enabled CBTN to hire expert data engineers and bioinformaticians, breaking down data silos and improving AI-driven predictive models that sharpen diagnostic accuracy and treatment planning.

“The impact of The Lilabean Foundation’s generosity cannot be overstated,” said Dr. Adam Resnick, Scientific Director of the Children’s Brain Tumor Network. “With this partnership, we are paving the way for the next era of pediatric brain cancer treatment and care. Thanks to LBF’s continued support, we are one step closer to ensuring that children with brain tumors have the best possible outcomes.”

LBF’s backing also amplified the impact of the NIH’s data generation initiative by helping CBTN extract and ship over 7,000 specimens. This effort standardized essential molecular data and positioned CBTN at the forefront of AI research. By integrating clinical, molecular, and imaging data into one multimodal dataset, researchers are developing more personalized and effective treatments.

“The integration of this multimodal data is a game-changer,” said Nicole Giroux, Executive Director of The Lilabean Foundation. “It has the potential to dramatically improve how we understand and treat pediatric brain tumors.”

That same dataset helped CBTN secure a first-of-its-kind ARPA-H award focused on pediatric innovation and form a new partnership with Amazon Web Services—paving the way for even more advanced AI breakthroughs.

“We are incredibly grateful for the support of The Lilabean Foundation,” said Jena Lilly, Executive Director of CBTN. “Their partnership has been invaluable in driving forward our shared mission to improve the lives of children battling brain tumors. Together, we are creating a future where cures and better treatments are within reach.”

About The Lilabean Foundation:
The Lilabean Foundation funds groundbreaking research and care innovation in pediatric brain cancer. Learn more at www.lilabeanfoundation.com.

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SOURCE The Lilabean Foundation